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en-USinfo@flashalert.net (Craig Walker)sysadmin@solidnet.net (SolidNet Administrator)30Mon, 19 Nov 2018 14:43:46 PSTPortland, Oregon. — The Department of Veterans Affairs is pleased to announce the appointment of Darwin Goodspeed as the new Director of the VA Portland Health Care System. Goodspeed will oversee delivery of health care to more than 94,930 Veterans and an operating budget of $729 million.

“We are excited to bring Mr. Goodspeed on board as the new director of the VA Portland Health Care System,” said Michael J. Murphy, Veterans Integrated Service Network (VISN) 20 Director. “His sound leadership qualities and proven experience will be valuable assets for the facility, the employees and volunteers, and most importantly, for the Veterans we are honored to serve. His start date is November 25, 2018.”

Goodspeed joined the VA more than 10 years ago and has held progressive leadership positions in Texas, Ohio and Sioux Falls. Most recently, he served as the medical center director at the VA Sioux Falls HCS, a complexity level 2 facility with 40 acute medical/surgical beds and 58 Community Living Center beds. The SFVAHCS has nearly 1,000 employees who provide care to over 27,000 Veterans in eastern South Dakota, northwestern Iowa and southwestern Minnesota.

Goodspeed holds a Master of Healthcare Administration from Baylor University and is a Certified Mentor and a Government Fellow. He is also a recipient of the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, a Joint Service Commendation Medal, a Meritorious Service Medal and a Navy Achievement medal. He is a graduate of the Veterans Health Administration’s Executive Career Field Development Program and the VA Executive Career Field program.

The VA Portland Health Care System (VAPORHCS) is a two-division, Joint Commission accredited 1A facility that administers a full range of primary, emergency, specialty, tertiary, and long-term care to Veterans throughout Oregon and Southwestern Washington. In addition to two main divisions located in Portland, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington, VAPORHCS operates nine Community Based Outpatient/Outreach Clinics (CBOCs) located in Newport,

Lincoln City, Warrenton, Bend, Salem, Fairview, downtown Portland, West Linn, Hillsboro, and The Dalles. The VAPORHCS catchment area covers more than 30,000 square miles and 26 counties. In addition to these clinics, VAPORHCS also operates a Community Resource & Referral Center (CRRC) which serves homeless Veterans in downtown Portland. VAPORHCS has a $729M annual budget with over 4,000 employees and volunteers. The Portland campus includes 167 Medical/Surgical, locked Mental Health, and Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds. The Vancouver campus includes a 72-bed Community Living Center (CLC), a 35-bed Residential Rehab Treatment Program, and a transitional Transplant Lodging Unit. Approximately 743 medical residents, 310 medical students, 240 nursing students and 230 students from other healthcare fields rotate through VAPORHCS annually.

That tradition continues again this year, with more than 300 events at VA hospitals, benefits offices and cemeteries across the country, including:

senior leader visits to VA facilities

open houses

town halls

benefits claims clinics

volunteer recognitions

homeless Veteran initiative events

suicide prevention events

faith-based community events

flag planting tributes at national cemeteries

To celebrate Veterans and Military Families Month locally, the Willamette National Cemetery will participate in the following event honoring Veterans and their families throughout the month of November:

4th Annual Columbia County Veteran’s Stand Down and Job Fair on 9 November from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm at the Four Square Church in St. Helens, Oregon

This year’s celebration of Veterans and Military Families Month caps an unprecedented period of improvement for VA, as the department has made groundbreaking progress over the last two years in the areas of accountability, transparency and efficiency across the department while enjoying an important series of legislative successes.

“At VA, Veterans and their families are at the center of everything we do. Veterans and Military Families Month is an opportunity for us to honor the service of these patriots while educating communities about VA benefits and services and our commitment to customer service improvement,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said.

“Our National Cemeteries honor this country’s Veterans, fallen soldiers and their families every day with honor, dignity and respect. Our doors are open and we encourage our community to come visit and learn about what we do,” said Willamette National Cemetery Director Pete Sardo.

The full list of national events for Veterans and Military Families month is available at this link.
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This year’s celebration of Veterans and Military Families Month caps an unprecedented period of improvement for VA, as the department has made groundbreaking progress over the last two years in the areas of accountability, transparency and efficiency across the department while enjoying an important series of legislative successes.

“At VA, Veterans and their families are at the center of everything we do. Veterans and Military Families Month is an opportunity for us to honor the service of these patriots while educating communities about VA benefits and services and our commitment to customer service improvement,” VA Secretary Robert Wilkie said.

“Recognizing and honoring the men and women who have worn the uniform of the United States Armed Forces gives us all the chance to pause and say thank you for your service and sacrifice,” said Tracye B. Davis, Interim Director of VA Portland Health Care System. “We are honored to help the nation repay its debt of gratitude to our Veterans.”

The full list of national events for Veterans and Military Families month is available at this link.